Fence



May 7, 1940. H. w. M. CQLEMAN FENCE Filed Feb. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 7, 1940. H. w. M. c oLEMAN FENCE Filed Feb. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 7, 1940 FENCE Harry Weldon M. Coleman, Huntington Park,

Calif Application February 23,1937, sei-151m. 127.335

s claims. I (o1. 25e-a5) This invention relates to improvements in fence construction and more particularly to a novel fence assembly which shall combine both ornamental and utility characteristics.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel metallic fence assembly which shall facilitate erection of the component parts of the fence.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel metallic fence post construction and interlocking accessory parts therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metallic fence post having a novel form of head construction which shall have universal application for use in a wide variety of fence building requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelv head construction for a fence post which shall interlock with and support fence assembly parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of tubular fence post construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel tubular fence post and brace construction therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel fence post unit construction which shall have universal application in fence assemblies to reduce the cost of fence construction to a minimum.

These and other objects of the invention will be more manifest from the following speciiication and drawings and more specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of a fence assembly embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the top portion of a tubular fence post embodying the present invention,

Figure 3 is a perspective view partially in sec- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a fence postl having a double arm support for inside and outside barbed wires,

Figure 7 is a modication of the fence support shown in Fig. 1, and illustrating the base anchor, and

'metrical in form and comprise an arrow head Figure 8 is a detailed view of the arm fastening device shown inl Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown a fence assembly embodying the novel features of my invention in which a ywoven 5 Wire fence I0, for example, is supportedby a plurality of line posts II-II and a corner post I2. The line posts .II-II are preferably made of metal tubing or pipe and each comprises a substantially flat and pointed head portion I3 as'shown in Fig. 2. The head portion I3 is formed by attening the end of the tubular body by compressing the sides to form an ornamental cap to prevent moisture from getting into the post as well as form securing means for fence accessories such as inclined arms for supporting barbed wire; tension wires, and top strands of woven wire,r hereinafter more fully described.

The edge portionsof the head I3 are sympoint I4 having side edge surfaces I5-I5 which diverge atr substantially 45 degrees from the me#l dian line or plane Ill', of the post. The side edges of the head being symmetrical, the configuration of only oneside will be described in detail. One side edge I5 sloping from the pointy I4 terminates in a shoulder flange or recess I6 which extends at substantially 45 to the. post median line and connecting with this'flange Iii is a sloping side edge portion I'I which is parallel to side lI5` and also extends at substantially 45 to the median line of the post. This edge terminates in a vertical side edge I8 of the head I3. The vertical side I8 connects with the upper side of a rectangular opening or recess I9 formed .in the head and having sides which extend inwardly atsubstantially 45 as shown in projected lines. The lower' side of the recess I9 connects with the side of another recess hav# ing vright angle side edge surfaces 2D and ZI' which liewithin the extended plane of the post head edge I8. These surfaces also extend at 45' to the median line of the post as shown by extended lines.. Connecting with the side ZIis a' slot having inwardly and downwardly extending sideportions 22 and 23 which terminate iin a large rectangular space 24. That portion of the head formed by the side portion 23 and the edge of the head forms a tongue or strip '25- which may be deformed to close the slot as here-f inafter more fully described. The opposite side of the head I3 is laid out in exactly the same manner as above described so that the recessesA and flangesv on both sides are symmetrical.

Located centrally of the head portion I3.is a" circular opening 26 which is designed to receive and secure a top rail 2'I to which the wire fence I may be supported.

One important feature of the novel post head construction above described is that it provides for the use of a line post as a brace member to interlock with a corner, end or gate post. This particular head configuration also provides for mounting and securing top fence guard arms adapted to support barbed wire strands, and tension strands for supporting wire mesh fencing.

When it is desired to brace a corner post, end or gate post for any reason, a line post employing the above described head portion is used with equal facility as a brace member. .As shown in Fig. l the corner post I2 is braced by a pair of braces indicated by the numerals 28-28. These braces are merely stock line posts II-II used as braces and! employing the novel head construction as an interlock connection as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The post to be braced is provided with a vertical slot 29 having a width equal to the thickness of the head I3 and a depth equal to the width of the head I3. In assembling the brace, the head I 3 is inserted in the slot 29 is a horizontal direction until the flange edge I6 passes the top edge of the slot and then the brace is pivoted in the slot by lowering the opposite end and allowing the flange surface I6 to bear against the inside surface of the post as designated by numeral and a portion of the surface II engaging the top of the slot 29. As the brace is nally brought to rest, the flange surface 20 on the opposite side of the head engages the bottom of the slot 2B and the adjacent surface 2l engages the outside surface of the post I2 as indicated by the numeral 3I to positively and rigidly interlock the brace 28 with the outside of the post. After the brace and post are thus interlocked and anchored in the ground, the unit is rigid and the parts inseparable in normal usage. An important feature of this construction is that the union may be made without the use of bolts, bands, clasps or other moving parts which require tools for tightening or adjusting the members in making the assembly.

If the post to be braced is of the usual character, several slots 29 may be provided around the post to receive an adequate number o'f braces. Furthermore since a brace head is designed to completely ll the slot in which it is recessed. moisture is prevented from entering the post and causing damage through rust. If the post is painted, the union of the parts presents a neat and pleasing appearance.

Another important feature of the particular arrangement of recesses in the head construction noted above is the provision for supporting overhanging guard arms 32 and 33 as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. In the particular embodiment, 32 may be designated as an outwardly projecting arm and 33 an inwardly projecting arm. These arms are provided with a plurality of deformable spaced slots or notches 34-34 for receiving and securing protection wirestrands such as barbed wire 'indicated by the numeral 35-35, if desired. The arms 32 and 33 are of the similar configurations and include a base securing portion 36 provided with spaced holes 3'I-3I shown in Fig. 8. These holes are adapted to register with the rectangular notches I9-I9 so that the arms 32 and 33 shall be rigidly attached by bolts E38- 38, for example. In order to facilita-te assembling the parts, the bolts are provided with square portions 39-39 commensurate with the size of the recess I9. After the arms are thus assembled to the posts the barbed wire strands are placed in the slots 34 and the slots closed by deforming the same as well understood in the art.

It will be further noted that the sharp projection outline formed by the post head configuration and the guard arms provide a neat and uniform appearance as well as add to the protection features of the particular fence construction. For example, the arms 32 and 33 are in the form of an arrow having a point 46 and base projections 4I-4I. At corners, ends or gates, whenever it is necessary to break the fencing, a spe cial post may be provided with special members 42-42 for attaching the Woven wire to the post. In cases of this kind the post is provided with a special protection cap 43 which may be of arrow shape.

In some cases it may be desirable to dispense with the top rail 21 and substitute a heavy wire 44 for supporting a woven wire fencing as shown in Fig. 7. Should this be desired, the wire 44 may be supported in space 24 and locked in place by collapsing the tongue 25 on the side of the head I3 Another important object o-f the post and brace members comprising my novel fence assembly is the manner of positively anchoring the same in the ground. The anchorage is obtained by flattening the lower end portion of the post body or shaft as indicated by the numeral 45 and bending the flattened portion at an. angle to the post. The flattened portion being a plane surface is readily bent to form the desired flat base indicated by the numeral 47 which serves as a positive ground anchor for the post or the post when used as a brace. The flattened end 45 may also form a base anchored by bending it in the form of a flat bottomed U as indicated by the numeral 46.

Another important feature of a post of this type is that the posts may be formed at the factory with flattened ends and shipped or stored as straight shafts with preformed flattened ends and then as lthe posts or braces are needed on a particular fence construction, the anchor bases may readily be formed as required.

Since the posts may be furnished the consumer as straight members, an appreciable saving is eifected in storage space, expense of packing and handling in transportation, and these savings enable the posts to be marketed at a minimum cost.

While anchorage bases of the character are particularly designed for setting the posts in ordinary dirt, it is obvious that the posts may be set in concrete if desired.

Having thus described a novel embodiment of fence construction, it is obvious that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as definedv in the claims.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a metallic fence post comprising a substantially fiat head portion, symmetrically arranged recesses provided in the opposite edges of the head for receiving and retaining fence members, and a transverse rectangular opening provided in the body portion of the post and spaced relative to the symmetrically arranged edge recesses for receiving a similarly arranged head portion of another fence member so that the recesses disposed on opposite sides of the head shall interlock with the sides of said opening.

CTI

2. As a new article of manufacture, a metallic fence post comprising a substantially flat head portion, and symmetrically arranged recesses provided in the opposite edges of the head for receiving and retaining fence members, the sides of certain of said recesses on opposite sides of the head extending at substantially 45 to the median line of the post to form interlocking edges for a cooperating fence member.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a metallic fence post comprising a substantially at head portion, said head portion having substantially parallel side edges and edges forming a point the sides of which are at substantially 45 to the median line of the post, and symmetrically arranged recesses formed in the parallel side edge portions of the head, the sides of certain of said recesses extending at substantially 45 to the median line of the post, whereby a side of said point and the sides of a recess in the opposite edge of said head shall cooperate to embrace opposite sides of a fence member.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a metallic fence post comprising a substantially flat head portion and symmetrically arranged recesses provided in the opposite edges of the head for receiving and retaining fence members, a guard arm having spaced apertures corresponding to said certain of said recesses, and means for securing the guard arm to said head.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a tubular metallic fence post comprising a flat head portion having parallel side edges and inclined top edges, a recess in one side edge of said head, ano-ther recess in one top edge of said head, the sides of said recesses being substantially in a plane 45 to the median line of said post.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a metallic fence post comprising a substantially at head portion, symmetrically arranged recesses provided in the opposite edges of the head for receiving and retaining fence members, and a transverse opening provided in the body portion of the post and spaced relative to the symmetrically arranged edged recesses for receiving a similarly arranged head portion of ano-ther fence member so that recesses disposed on opposite sides of the head shall interlock with the sides of said opening and completely fill the opening when the fence member is inserted and inclined at 45 to the median line of said post.

HARRY WELDON M. COLEMAN. 

